Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S., but it offers an outsized variety of experiences, from colonial history to coastline escapes. Founded in 1636 by Roger Williams as a haven for religious freedom, the state still reflects its independent spirit. In Providence, travelers can visit the John Brown House Museum to explore the city’s role in early American commerce, or walk Benefit Street, lined with preserved 18th- and 19th-century homes.

St. Julians was originally a tiny fishing village, built round a small bay. It has retained most of its charm, thanks to some sympathetic restoration. Overlooking the bay is Spinola Palace, built in 1688. Today St Julians provides some of the best restaurants, like the San Giuliano and Barracuda, overlooking the Bay, popular with locals and visitors alike. It gets quite busy over the weekends and during the peak season, making parking a problem. However, public transport is frequent and nearby P

In Engelberg visitors can enjoy activities in all seasons. In winter, snow covers long ski runs, and slopes of all levels stretch down towards the valley. In warmer months, the same lifts take hikers to high meadows where paths lead past lakes and ridges with spectacular views. Down in the valley, the Brunni area has gentle slopes, a summer toboggan run, and even barefoot trails around quiet ponds, offering a different side of the Alps.

Stretching across central Oman, the Wahiba Sands offer a dramatic desert landscape of rolling dunes that shift in color with the changing light. This vast sea of sand is home to towering ridges and open plains, creating an otherworldly backdrop for exploration.

Saint Guirec was a Gallic monk who evangelized Perros Guirec in the 6th century. Known primarily as a health and tourist resort, Perros-Guirec is set on the stunning pink granite coast. Explore Trestraou Beach with its fabulous pink rock formation or the beach of Ploumanac'h where St.Guirec is buried. Perros-Guirec also is host to one of the main bird reserves.